Dell Inspiron Desktop (i3847-4616BK)

I waited a bit to write this review, as I wanted to test the computer out. I got it as a gift for my girlfriend, so I only get to use it on the weekends. I was shopping for an i3 computer for her and was pleasantly surprised to find this i5 computer for the same price as an i3. I got it for $449 and it’s only gone up a little to $479 (I believe). Great price. It was easy to set up and runs fast and quiet. I was pleased to find that, although it said it came with Windows 8, it actually came with 8.1, which allows you to convert this to practically a Windows 7 style computer, for those who don’t want to use the tiles. Since this is a desktop computer, I’m assuming that most of you want the classic style and not the tablet style. It’s very easy to do by using the following article I got from an IT friend. To find it, just Google “ITPro Windows 8.1 Tips and Tricks”. Use the tips in this article and, bingo, you have a Windows 7 computer.

If you’re using a different virus software than the McAfee that comes with this, make sure to uninstall McAfee and install your program of choice (I had an open slot for Norton Internet Security so I just went to the website and downloaded it from my account to this computer). Then I went to see if there were necessary updates. There were none to install. If you want to use Microsoft Office 365 trial version that comes with this computer, fine. Just follow the instructions to activate it. That is an online version of office and you pay about $100 a year, so we didn’t want that. I purchased Office 2013 Home and Business (as my girlfriend uses Outlook) and installed it with the key code I got. You have to make sure to uninstall the trial Office 365, first, or it will not work, as it will think the key code is for the trial Office 365 and not the one you are installing. There was no problem with the monitor, keyboard or mouse I connected, even though they were old models. It recognized them automatically. I did the printer last, as I wanted the full HP Solution Center, so I went to HP online and downloaded the complete package, plugging in the printer at the prompt.

Everything went smoothly. Using the tips from the link I gave you, I set it up to boot to the desktop and not the tiles. Then I went to the store (which is in the tiles view) and got a free classic Start button that works just like the Windows 7 Start button (in desktop view, there is no Start button until you get one from the Store). Then I got my libraries back, as the article tells you to. For you XP users, the libraries is simply the Windows 7 version of My Documents, except that it has its own folder-looking icon in the lower left of your taskbar, and separates My Pictures, My Music and Documents into separate libraries. Once you get used to it, you actually like this separation better. Also, be aware that if you use Outlook, once you install it and import your Outlook.pst file from your backup, it automatically stores your root Outlook pst files (old and new) in the Documents section, so you never have to back it up on your computer. Just back up your documents onto an external drive and Outlook is automatically backed up. Set your default programs to be the programs in the classic desktop version, which are different programs from the tiles view (Windows Media Player, Photo Gallery, etc.) so when you click on a file it doesn’t switch you to the tiles view. Do the other few hints in the article and you’re all set to go. You basically have a Windows 7 computer. It works great.

As it doesn’t come with a terrific graphics card, just a sufficient one for the average user, I wouldn’t recommend this computer to a heavy gamer. A heavy gamer should probably get an i7 with a 1 Gig dedicated NVidia or AMD graphics card. Otherwise this is a great computer for just about anybody, even heavy multi-taskers. Go for it while the price is still so good. And look at the comments to Techie 1. One person has a link to whatever documentation you need – diagram with specs, user’s manual and quick startup guide. Get this computer and have fun!!! Oh, one little thing – the USB3 ports are in the back, a bit of an annoyance if you have a USB3 backup drive and back it up every week. There are 2 USB2 ports in the front which we use, so for us that’s not an issue – and it backs up fast, even with USB2.

I was able to pull this from the box, set it up, and be online checking email and doing all of my basic web surfing within an hour or so.

I had to scratch my head a couple of times with Windows 8 having run XP pro for the past several years, but I’ve encountered no difficulties with it that I couldn’t solve with a little experimenting or a quick search.

I’m by no means a techie but was able to transfer all of my documents and music easily with a flash drive.

The speed is everything I’d hoped for and video’s play smoothly and reliably.

Very happy with this PC.

Oh, and quiet? This PC is absolutely SILENT.